This Week at Peace -- September 2, 2012

Dear Peacemakers, We had a wonderful morning together last Sunday, singing our faith and hearing the stories behind several classic hymns!   Many of you expressed your appreciation, and I want to thank you for the boost that was to your staff, who are like Mark Twain, able to live two months on a good compliment. Our scripture this week from the book of James 1:17-27 challenges us to a life of Christian integrity – where our life is consistent with our convictions.   We are be saved by grace (as Paul emphasizes) but our salvation is evident/real when we live faithfully – by listening, doing, and caring. On September 9, our Back to Church Sunday, we will have a congregational meeting to elect a nominating committee.   The slate of nominees includes Eirinn Camphire, Matthew Grantham, Bob Hughes, Gertie Rineer, and Rod Scott.   Other nominations may be made on the day.   This group will meet frequently over the next two months to discern (with your help) who might well serve as elders on session for the next three years. At our congregational meeting, Elder Don Simpson will report on the progress of the Building Vision Team.   As you may have heard, we are looking into the viability of the Faith Christian Church, a foreclosed property on Lorraine Road.   Following the meeting, our Education Teams will highlight their offerings for this fall – to begin the following week, on the 16th. At 12:30 on September 9, all teachers and youth advisors will have a training lunch, and at 5:00, all youth and parents will gather at the Gartenbergs for swim, supper, and conversation about this year’s youth activities. I am pleased to announce that several families are planning to meet with the Session to join Peace THIS Sunday, the 2nd, at 11:30. See your Sunday bulletin for all the coming events – choirs starting back soon, Movie Night on the 14th,  Animal Blessing on the 23rd, and a very special Peacemaking/World Communion week in October. Peace to all, Elizabeth

This Week at Peace - - August 26, 2012

Dear Peacemakers, At Andrew’s convocation last Sunday we heard an inspiring speech by the President of High Point University. During the time I have been serving Peace, High Point has tripled its student body and faculty, and added or renovated 47 buildings. They did all this by serious attention to a mission statement and some darn good fundraising: every student receives an extraordinary education in an inspiring environment with caring people. I was spurred to consider how we are doing with our mission: to make God known by growing as disciples of Jesus Christ, building a community of peace, and caring for the needs of others. We have grown from 20 to 200 in seven years as a community called Peace Presbyterian, but the prayerful, hard work is not done. Summer break is over. Ask yourselves: what am I doing to make God known? Am I growing as a disciple of Jesus Christ and helping others to grow? Am I building a community of peace by the way I relate to church members, guests, and folks in the neighborhood? Am I caring for the needs of others? We accomplish our mission through a commitment to these goals: inspiring worship, authentic relationships, nurturing discipleship, compassionate outreach, and responsive stewardship. I invite you to re-commit yourselves to every one of these goals. And if you are still new to Peace, please jump in with both feet as soon as you are comfortable affirming your trust in Jesus Christ and making Peace your church family. We need you! We want your fresh input. We value your perspective. If you’re ready to join, make my day and tell me! I know we have several ready to meet with the elders on September 2 at 11:30. This Saturday Presbytery meets at Chuch of the Palms from 9:00-2:30.   If you are interested in attending all or just the part when Kim Adams is presented for candidacy at 1:45ish, please write me or call.   We can carpool from Peace at both 8:00 and 1:00. This week in worship we are having, as we had three years ago to the day, a service of scripture and song, prayers and sacrament. We will travel through sacred time with a single verse of favorite hymns. Come, celebrate God’s goodness with us. After worship, we will have three options: Hope Seeds: learn about a mission that provide seeds to missionaries in developing countries. Church Community Builder: develop greater comfort with Peace’s web-based communication system. Bring a laptop, if you’d like or follow along on the screen. Worship Reflection: Hear some of the stories behind the hymns and discuss how the Spirit was moving during worship. Then our first Kids Club for 3rd-5th graders will happen at lunchtime and following, because we assume the storm will not arrive until Monday or Tuesday. Speaking of the Hurricane, please write down my cell number 941-779-4900 and let me or someone else at Peace know if you need a safe place to stay. Peace to all, especially the Haitians in still living in tents, Pastor Elizabeth

This Week at Peace - - August 19, 2012

This Week at Peace, Pastor Tricia is preaching on the good judgment of King Solomon in asking for wisdom, instead of riches and power.    Kim Adams will assist with the service again.   Don't forget your opportunity to support Kim at Church of the Palms on Saturday, August 25 at 1:30ish.  Best wishes to all teachers and students as another school year begins.   Moms at Peace, Suzi Regulski is hosting a Mom’s Night Out to celebrate and unwind at the end of the first week back at school.   Friday, August 24, at 6:30 at Suzi’s new house in Tara.  (374-1106) Last chance to bring in school supplies for Beth-El is this Sunday.    Learn about Hope Seeds, a mission organization for whom Denise Landers works, on August 26 during Lively learning.   That’s same day as tech support class for Church Community Builder (CCB). Those who have expressed interest in membership at Peace, let me know if September 2 at 11:30 is a good time for you to have a conversation with some elders.   We are excited that you are ready to commit with us "to make God known by growing as disciples of Jesus Christ, building a community of Peace, and caring for the needs of others." September 9 is Back to Church Sunday for us with an Education Expo and teacher training to follow.   New classes begin the 16th. We Deiberts will be away again -- this time taking Andrew to college and dropping some apartment items off to his older sisters.  The car is packed full.  Time to depart.   We're launching another young adult into the world.  God bless us all with grace and responsibility. Peace, Elizabeth

This Week at Peace - - August 12, 2012

Summer is beginning to come to a close.   Teachers and students are preparing to return to school.    Church activities will soon accelerate.   This is our last Sunday with Marilyn Tucker, our seminary intern.    We are grateful for the ten weeks of devoted service Marilyn has offered Peace. I have heard strong reviews of the sermons preached by both Marilyn and Kim Adams, our own seminarian.   Peace is blessed to have so many experienced ministers, and is doubly blessed to participate in the training of new ministers. This Sunday we will read John 6:35, 41-51, a mysterious text in which Jesus calls himself the “bread of life” given “for the life of the world.”   We will reflect on what it means to be a eucharistic congregation, celebrating communion weekly.   Come, smell, taste, and see the goodness of the Lord.   According to  John, we need this bread-flesh-real Christ to live forever. If you are away, safe travels and we look forward to having you back.   If you are in town, we will be eager to feast with you. Christ's peace be with you, Elizabeth

This Week at Peace - - August 5, 2012

Dear Peacemakers, Kim Adams, our seminarian and friend, a member of Peace, will be preaching on Ephesians 4:1-16 this Sunday, a great text about the unity of the church built by Christ's love and gifts.  Kim and family are here (Jason only occasionally) through the end of August.  Kim will stand before Peace River Presbytery with our session’s endorsement to proceed to candidacy, the next step toward ordination.  She has another year of seminary left.  You may come to presbytery to support Kim on August 25th at Church of the Palms, Sarasota, exact time TBA later.   What a joy it has been for Tricia and me, and for all of us at Peace, to have both Marilyn Tucker from Columbia Seminary and Kim Adams from McCormick Seminary with us this summer, sharing their gifts and experiences with us!  Thank you for being a congregation that inspires and supports the development of future ministers in the PC(USA).  Marilyn's last day with us is August 12. Don’t forget that Saturday evening is our Fellowship Dinner at Linger Lodge – all ages welcome at 5:00.   Richard and I are very sorry to miss, as we will be in Philadelphia leading Chuck and Sue McClurg in a 50th Anniversary Vow Renewal Ceremony, as well as visiting some of Richard’s relatives. Peace’s first VBS was a great success, thanks to the organizational work of Mary Ann Grantham, and her great team.   Barrels of gratitude go to the VBS kids for mixing bean soup and to all of you for bringing so many school supplies for Mission Beth-El.   Keep them coming! The Sisters of Peace will not be walking on the Saturday mornings of August, but will resume again in September.   Our new Kids Club monthly fellowship group for 3-5 graders starts at lunchtime on Sunday, August 26.   Friends welcome! Prayerfully yours, Elizabeth

This Week at Peace - - July 29, 2012

Vacation Bible School starts tonight 6:00-8:30.    Come, register at the door.   Bring some friends.   Session two is tomorrow from 9:00-11:30.   It will be boatloads of fun teaching the kids that we can shine God’s light.   Hoping for a pile of kids from preschool to 5th grade.  Youth helpers welcome. On Sunday our seminary intern Marilyn is preaching on John 6:1-15, the feeding of the five thousand.  There will be a short VBS program after fellowship time, in place of all Lively learning options. Our session met with Kim Adams last week and recommended to the presbytery’s committee on preparation for ministry that Kim move from inquirer to candidate for ministry.   It was meaningful to hear Kim describe her studies, along with her year-long, part-time internship in a largely African American PC(USA) congregation on the south side of Chicago.  We compared and contrasted that experience with Marilyn’s here in suburban southwest Florida this summer. The session set some dates for Autumn: September 9 - Welcome back Sunday – Lively Learning Expo September 23 @7 - Blessing of the Animals October 7 - World Communion Meal, International Peacemaker October 22 - Peace in the Park Saturday, October 27 - Sing for Your Supper, guest speaker 2nd Fridays - Movie Night at Peace   Next Saturday night, August 4, the Fellowship team invites you to a church family dinner experience at the old classic Linger Lodge at 5:00.   No reservations needed. Mission Team is counting on school supplies for Beth-El Farmworker Ministries in the next few weeks. Peace to you, Elizabeth